Pitman attachment



July 11, 1944. J: E. KIPER 2,353,476

PITMAN ATTACHMENT Filed oct. 22, 1945 Inventor CAWVESK wan? Patented July 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PITMAN ATTACHMENT James E. Kiper, English, Ky.

Application October 22, 1943, Serial No. 507,332

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in mower pitmans, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for opening or spreading the straps of the pitman when the draw bolt is loosened for disconnecting the reciprocating knife from said pitman.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the aforementioned character which is adapted to be expeditiously mounted for use on a conventional pitman without the necessity of making material structural alterations therein.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a pitman attachment of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing an attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted on a pitman.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a View in side elevation of the device.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially U-shaped spring I of suitable fiat, resilient metal. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 1 of the drawing, the spring I is adapted to be mounted under tension between the straps 2 of a conventional mower pitman 3.

Adjacent their free ends, the legs 4 of the spring i have formed on their longitudinal edges pairs of retaining flanges 5 which are adapted to straddle the straps 2. Then, the free ends of the legs 5 of the spring I have formed therein notches or recesses 6 for the reception of the usual draw bolt 1 of the pitman 3.

It is thought that the manner in which the device functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the spring I is mounted in position under tension between the straps 2 with the bight portion 8 of said spring abutting the opposed end of the rod 9 of the pitman 3. With the draw bolt 1 engaged in the notches 6 and the pairs of flanges 5 straddling the straps 2, the spring I is firmly secured in position on the pitman. When the nut H! is loosened on the draw bolt 1, the spring i spreads the straps 2, thereby opening the socket members II to facilitate the removal therefrom of the usual ball I 2 of the knife.

It is believed that the many advantages of a pitman attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is: r

1. In combination with a pitman rod having spaced straps secured to and projecting from an end thereof, said straps having socket members on their outer ends, a reciprocating mower knife having a ball on one end disposed between and engaged in said socket members, and a bolt passing through the straps and having a nut threaded thereon for securing the socket members against the ball, a substantially U-shaped spring disposed between said straps for spreadingthe latter and permitting removal of the ball from the socket members when the nut is loosened, said spring having its bight portion disposed against an end of the pitman rod and including legs having notches in their ends receiving the bolt.

2. In combination with a pitman rod having spaced straps secured to and projecting from an end thereof, said straps having socket members on their outer ends, a reciprocating mower knife having a ball on one end disposed between and engaged in said socket members, and a bolt passing through the straps and having a nut threaded thereon for securing the socket members against the ball, a substantially U-shaped spring disposed between said straps for spreading the latter and permitting removal of the ball from the socket members when the nut is loosened, said spring having its 'bight portion disposed against an end of the pitman rod and including legs having notches in their ends receiving the bolt, and flanges on the longitudinal edges of the legs engaging the side edges of the straps.

JAMES E. KIPER. 

